A repair and improvement project more than six years in the making is finally complete.
A ribbon cutting will be held at 10 a.m. Jan. 28 at Langley Pond near the Aiken-Augusta Highway, and the public will get a first look at a complete overhaul of Langley Dam Park.
Assistant Aiken County Administrator Brian Sanders says the improvements include a large and accessible playground, hammock park, paved parking, multi-purpose shelters, a grilling station and more beach area.
“With the tremendous growth in the Midland Valley area, residents will now have a premier park to enjoy without having to travel to Aiken, North Augusta or Augusta for a relaxing day with their families,” he said. “In fact, Langley Pond offers much more than most regional parks, with a state-of-the-art disc golf course, dedicated swim area, trails for horses and walkers, as well as water activities like canoeing, kayaking, fishing and motor boating.”
The park upgrades cost just under $6.5 million, paid for with special purpose sales tax money and a grant from Discover SC.
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The event is the culmination of repairs and improvements that started in late 2014 when a leak was discovered at the Langley Pond Dam. An inspection found multiple leaks in the earthen dam, built in the 1850s to be a water resource for area cotton mills, and the water level in the pond was lowered to reduce pressure on the dam.
In 2015, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, which oversees dams in the Palmetto State, sent the county a letter stating: “Based on a visual assessment of your dam following the recent flooding, it was noted that your dam is damaged and repairs and/or maintenance are needed to ensure your dam is in compliance with the South Carolina Dams and Reservoirs Act.”
Repair work began in 2018 with completion expected within 21 months. However, removal of rotted timbers, other construction issues and periods of heavy rain slowed the progress.
The major repair work, which included fortification of the earthen dam and replacement of the partially non-functional spillway, was completed in mid-2020.
The total repair cost was just over $17.2 million dollars. It was paid for with Federal Hazardous Mitigation Funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and special purpose sales tax money.
Langley Pond has been particularly popular with rowing teams. The U.S. Rowing Team used it as the home practice facility prior to the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a general assignment reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
